The fees prescribed in the Regulation have been indexed as of 1 April 2017 pursuant to the notice published in Part 1 (French) of the Gazette officielle du Québec of 11 March 2017, page 301. (ss. 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 79)

“accessory” means any component connected to a pressure vessel or piping, including among others a fitting, a valve, a cock, a water-level indicator, a gauge, an injector, a regulating or control device, a rupture device and any other pressure vessel mentioned in paragraph 10 of section 2 provided that it is attached to a pressure vessel or that it is part of it; (accessoire)

“direct power” means electric power or power generated by the combustion of a solid, a liquid, a gas or a mixture of the three; (énergie directe)

“enterprise” means a person or partnership; (entreprise)

“expansion tank” means a pressure vessel designed for installation in a closed hot water heating system or cooling system to provide a pneumatic cushion for the expansion of the water; (réservoir de dilatation)

“heat exchanger” means a pressure vessel such as a condenser, evaporator, heater or cooler in which heat is exchanged between 2 fluids; (échangeur de chaleur)

“hot water tank” means a pressure vessel not provided with a direct power source in which water is stored or heated; (réservoir à eau chaude)

“inspector” means an inspector as defined by section 7 of the Act or, as the case may be, a person to whom the Minister has delegated the power to carry out inspections under section 8 of the Act; (inspecteur)

“installation of pressure vessel” means a pressure vessel or an assembly of vessels and attached accessories including the piping; (installation d’appareil sous pression)

“installer” means a person who, for another person or for himself, does or has installation work done on pressure vessels or pressure piping. In the event that no installation work is carried out on the installation site, the owner or operator of the pressure vessel located on such site is considered as the installer; (installateur)

“low pressure” means

(1) gauge pressure of 103 kPa or less for steam and gases;

(2) gauge pressure of 1,100 kPa or less for water at a temperature of 121 ºC or less; or

(3) vapour pressure of 205 kPa or less in absolute pressure for liquids at the maximum operating temperature; (basse pression)

“manufacturer” means an enterprise that manufactures, in whole or in part, pressure vessels, piping or accessories, or assembles elements thereof; (fabriquant)

“piping” means a system of pipes and conduits, including a manifold, used exclusively to carry a fluid from one point to another; (tuyauterie)

“registration” means the inscription of a pressure vessel; (enregistrement)

“thermal fluid” means a heat transfer fluid other than water that is used to transfer heat with or without vaporisation; (fluide thermique)

“water heater” means a vessel provided with a direct energy source in which water destined for exterior use is heated to a temperature of 99 ºC or less and to a pressure of 1,100 kPa or less. The heat source and control devices are an integral of the water-heater. (chauffe-eau)

O.C. 2519-82, s. 1; O.C. 1310-91, s. 1; O.C. 1678-94, s. 1.

DIVISION 2

SCOPE

2.The following pressure vessels are excluded from the Act and its regulations:

(1) steam, hot water or thermal fluid low-pressure boilers whose wet heating surface in less than 2.8 m2 or whose power does not exceed 30 kW;

(1.1) open-circuit boilers not mentioned in paragraph 1 whose pressure cannot exceed 103 kPa and which have no valve between the boiler and the vent leading directly to the atmosphere;

(1.2) hot water or steam boilers not mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 1.1 having all the following characteristics;

(a) they have no steam drum or steam header;

(b) the tubes and coils are not used to produce steam;

(c) they are provided with manually operated nozzles or sprinklers that conduct the fluid directly into the atmosphere;

(d) the tubes have an outside diameter not exceeding 25 mm and the pipes have a nominal diameter not exceeding 19 mm;

(e) their water volume does not exceed 23 litres;

(f) they are provided with a temperature control device that prevents the water temperature from exceeding 180 ºC;

(g) they are provided with an overpressure safety relief device adjusted to and sealed at a pressure not exceeding the design pressure indicated on the boiler;

(2) water heaters whose power does not exceed 30 kW or whose diameter does not exceed 600 mm;

(3) hot water tanks not exceeding 600 mm in diameter and hot water tanks not provided with a power source and containing water at a temperature of 65 °C or less;

(4) pressure vessels other than those mentioned in subsection 3 not provided with a direct power source, containing vapour or a gas whose pressure cannot exceed 103 kPa or a liquid whose vapour pressure cannot exceed 205 kPa in absolute pressure at the maximum operating temperature. This exception does not apply to refrigerating systems;

(4.1) pressure vessels used as the enclosure for gas pressurized electric equipment and any tank forming a part thereof;

(5) hydropneumatic tanks with a diameter not exceeding 600 mm and with a volume not exceeding 0.453 m3;

(6) expansion tanks with a diameter not exceeding 600 mm;

(7) low-pressure piping and fire fighting piping;

(8) (paragraph revoked);

(9) (paragraph revoked);

(10) pressure vessels not provided with a direct power source with a volume not exceeding 0.0425 m3 or with a diameter not exceeding 152 mm.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 2; O.C. 1310-91, s. 2; O.C. 977-96, s. 1.

2.1.The provisions of the Act its regulations concerning the installation and the use of a pressure vessel apply neither to a tank used for storing gas in, supplying gas to or recovering gas from a vessel referred to in paragraph 4.1 of section 2, nor to a tank used for the operation of the electric generating equipment of a hydroelectric plant.

O.C. 977-96, s. 2.

3.Sections 14, 16 and 18 of the Act do not apply to the installation of the following vessels nor to an addition to or modification of their piping:

(1) air tanks whose diameter is 0.61 m or less or whose volume is 0.35 m3 or less;

(2) hot water or thermal fluid low-pressure boilers whose wet heating surface is 10 m2 or less or whose power is 200 kW or less;

(3) hot water tanks whose diameter is 0.92 m or less;

(4) the components of a refrigeration plant whose total compressor motor power is 20 kW or less.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 3; O.C. 977-96, s. 3.

DIVISION 3

GENERAL PROVISIONS

4.The design, manufacture, testing, inspection and registration of pressure vessels, with the exception of refrigeration systems and pressure vessels destined for use in the nuclear energy sector shall conform to the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (CSA B51-M1991), published by CSA.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 4; O.C. 1310-91, s. 3; O.C. 1678-94, s. 2.

5.Installation of pressure vessels, with the exception of refrigerating systems and pressure vessels intended for the nuclear energy sector, shall conform to the Code d’installation des appareils sous pression (NQ 3650-900-1989), published by BNQ. In the case of pressure vessels intended for uninflammable medical gas distribution systems, installations of such appliances shall conform to the standard Matériel d’hôpital-réseaux de distribution de gaz médicaux ininflammables (NQ 5710-500, 89-09-01), published by BNQ.

7.The design, manufacture, testing, inspection, registration and installation of pressure vessels destined for the nuclear energy sector shall conform to the standard General Provisions for Pressurized Plant and Components in CANDU Nuclear Plants (CAN3-N285.0-M81), published by CSA.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 7; O.C. 1310-91, s. 6.

DIVISION 4

DECLARATION

8.The manufacturer must provide, before construction, plans, specifications and calculations for all pressure vessels according to the requirements of sections 4.1.1 to 4.1.9 of the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (CSA B51-M1991).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 8; O.C. 1310-91, s. 7; O.C. 1678-94, s. 2.

9.The manufacturer must provide, before using them, the drawings and specifications of accessories according to the requirements of sections 4.2.1 to 4.2.8 of the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (CSA B51-M1991).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 9; O.C. 1310-91, s. 8; O.C. 1678-94, s. 2.

10.The installer must provide, before installing a pressure vessel, an installation declaration accompanied by drawings according to the requirements of sections 4.2.1 to 4.2.4 of the Code d’installation des appareils sous pression (NQ 3650-900-1989).

12.Installers of all refrigeration vessels must provide a declaration before beginning the installation work. Despite Clause 4.3.1 of the Mechanical Refrigeration Code CAN/CSA B52-92, published by the Canadian Standards Association, that declaration shall be accompanied by 3 copies of the plans and specifications of the refrigeration plant for approval and registration, where the total compressor motor power exceeds 75 kW for refrigerants in groups A1 and B1 or 37 kW for refrigerants in groups A2, B2, A3 and B3, in accordance with the classification or refrigerants under Clause 3.3 of the aforementioned Code. The plans submitted must also comply with Clause 4.3.2 of that Code.

If the compressor motor power is not indicated by the manufacturer, when electric motors are used, it is calculated by using the values 0.9 for the power factor and 0.8 for performance.

13.The installer must, verbally or in writing, request installation authorization before the operation of the pressure vessel.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 13.

14.The user of a portable pressure vessel must give notice in writing to the chief inspector that he has acquired such a pressure vessel and, thereafter, each time this pressure vessel is installed in the same place for a period exceeding 3 weeks.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 14.

15.Whoever decides to scrap a pressure vessel or not to use it as a pressure vessel shall destroy or obliterate its stamp and return the certificates that he has on hand respecting the said vessel.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 15.

DIVISION 5

CERTIFICATES

16.Each certificate defined in the Act is issued for a maximum working pressure and temperature. These maximums are determined by taking into account the approved and registered drawings and specifications for the construction of the pressure vessel, its installation, its condition, the inspections and tests it has undergone and the accessories attached thereto.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 16.

17.The maximums determined in section 16 are reduced when an inspection proves that the condition of a pressure vessel or of a pressure vessel installation so require. They are raised if the circumstances limiting them happen to be changed or corrected. In this case, the pressure vessel or the pressure vessel installation shall undergo and successfully pass a new inspection. A new periodic inspection certificate, as provided in section 21 of the Act, is issued when the working conditions are changed, and the last certificate shall be destroyed.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 17.

18.The certificate issued under this Regulation shall be posted in proximity of the pressure vessel or pressure vessel installation for which they were issued. If posting is not possible, certificates shall be readily available to the inspector upon request.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 18.

19.A certificate of approval of construction of a pressure vessel is issued to the manufacturer for any pressure vessel subject to an individual inspection under Clause 5.2.2 of the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (CSA B51-M1991). When a pressure vessel is subject to an individual inspection, the certificate of approval of construction shall be obtained from the manufacturer before proceeding with the installation of the pressure vessel.

For pressure vessels governed by the Regulation but not subject to an individual inspection under Clause 5.2.2 of this Code, the manufacturer shall supply the declaration of conformity mentioned in subsection 2 of section 11 of the Act.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 19; O.C. 1310-91, s. 12; O.C. 1678-94, s. 2.

20.A certificate of approval of installation may cover one pressure vessel or a separate installation including several pressure vessels.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 20.

21.A qualification certificate is issued to the welder who has passed the test mentioned in sections 43 to 49.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 21.

DIVISION 6

INSPECTION IN GENERAL

22.Whoever uses or is in charge of a pressure vessel shall give the inspector free access to the pressure vessel, supply him with the materials, equipment and documents required for the tests, and have all hand-hole and manhole covers removed and have both the inside and outside of the pressure vessel cleaned.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 22.

23.An inspector may during an inspection ensure the thickness, the properties or the state of the material of a pressure vessel and may for this purpose, if no other approved method of testing is available on the premises, require that the plates of a vessel be perforated, that a sample of the material be taken or that a test be carried out at the expense of the user.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 23.

24.The installer or user shall remove any paint, insulation, material or coating whatsoever, which prevents making an inspection of the pressure vessel and determining its defects.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 24.

25.At the time inspection, the last certificates and documents respecting the pressure vessel or the pressure vessel installation shall be made available to the inspector.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 25.

26.Inspection of pressure vessels may be carried out by periodic testing and sampling in the following cases when the manufacturer, user, repairer or installer has an approved quality control program for:

(1) the manufacture of pressure vessels not subject to the individual inspection required in section 5.2.2 of the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (CSA B51-M1991);

(2) the inspection, repair and changes made to pressure vessels;

(3) the inspection of new pressure vessel installations;

(4) the repair of safety devices;

(5) the manufacture of piping.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 26; O.C. 1310-91, s. 13; O.C. 1678-94, s. 2.

DIVISION 7

INSPECTION AGENCIES

27.The following agencies may verify, at the time of its manufacture, a pressure vessel constructed outside Québec for use in Québec:

(1) in Canada, a pressure vessel inspection service under provincial jurisdiction. Where allowed by the inspection service of the province where the pressure vessel was manufactured, the inspection may be carried out in a shop recognized and certified by the ASME by an inspector holding a valid certificate from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and employed by an authorized inspection agency as defined in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. In the latter case, the pressure vessel shall be registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors;

(2) in the United States, a state or municipal inspection agency having in its employ an inspector holding a valid certificate from the National Board of Boilers and Pressure Vessels Inspectors;

(3) in other countries, an authorized inspection agency having in its employ an inspector holding a valid certificate from the National Board of Boilers and Pressure Vessels Inspectors, or one of the agencies mentioned in subsections 4 to 17;

28.Periodic inspection of pressure vessels must be carried out in accordance with the frequency established in Schedule 1.

This section does not apply to pressure vessels whose periodic inspection frequency is determined by an inspection program which is part of a quality control program approved in accordance with section 57 for the following appliances:

Periodic inspection of CANDU nuclear power plant components, as defined in Periodic Inspection of CANDU Nuclear Power Plant Components (CAN3-N285.4-M83), published by CSA, shall conform to the requirements and prescriptions of that standard.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 28; O.C. 1310-91, s. 15.

29.The inspector may, after the external inspection, require that internal inspection of any pressure vessel be carried out within the time limit he determines.

In order to determine the internal condition of a pressure vessel, the inspector may replace the internal visual inspection by any other method of nondestructive testing such as a leak test, ultrasound or radiographic examination.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 29; O.C. 1310-91, s. 16.

30.A pressure vessel not mentioned in Schedule 1 must undergo an external inspection at least once every 4 years, or within the period established by the inspector.

This section does not apply to pressure vessels whose periodic inspection frequency is determined by an inspection program which is part of a quality control program approved in accordance with section 57.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 30; O.C. 1310-91, s. 17.

31.No periodic inspection is required for the components of a refrigeration plant whose total compressor motor power is 20 kW or less.

33.The inspector may require that a boiler undergo an inspection bared of any covering.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 33.

34.If the user of a pressure vessel changes the location of the vessel, the certificate of approval of installation and of periodic inspection becomes automatically void and a new certificate for the approval of the installation is required.

This section does not apply to portable pressure vessels.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 34.

DIVISION 9

INSPECTION OF USED VESSELS

35.After inspection and test, a used pressure vessel registration number is stamped on the pressure vessel and a certificate of approval for the re-use of the vessel is delivered to the user.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 35.

36.The person who delivers or cedes a pressure vessel must give a written notice of the name and address of the enterprise to which a used pressure vessel is delivered or ceded.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 36.

DIVISION 10

REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS

37.The user of a pressure vessel must immediately give notice to the chief inspector of any accident, explosion, break or damage of the pressure vessel or of its installation. This pressure vessel must not be repaired or altered before authorization has first been obtained.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 37.

38.Whoever repairs or alters a pressure vessel must give notice to the chief inspector, supply the required documents such as plans, drawings or calculations and obtain authorization before the beginning of the works.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 38.

39.Section 38 does not apply to an enterprise that has a pressure vessel quality control program allowing it to carry out these repairs or alterations.

41.A safety or relief valve that has been altered, assembled, repaired or set shall be sealed by an inspector or by a person mentioned in the pressure vessel quality control program. This person shall indicate on the seals, the name of the enterprise and on the valve, the pressure and the date of adjustment. A card indicating the characteristics of the valve, the completed repairs and the name of the user must be kept by the enterprise having an approved pressure vessel quality control program and shall be produced upon the request of an inspector.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 41.

42.The inspector may for purposes of verification require that a safety or relief valve that has been altered be sent at the expense of the user or the repairer to a recognized test laboratory in order to test its relieving capacity, calibration and setting.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 42.

DIVISION 12

Welders and welding procedures

(Replaced as regards the personal qualification of welder)

O.C. 2519-82, Div. 12; O.C. 280-2006, s. 49.

43.Any test to approve a welding or brazing procedure and to qualify a welder shall conform to the Welding and Brazing Qualifications Code (ASME-1995, Section IX), published by ASME, and the Code for Pressure Piping (ANSI B31.1-1992, B31.2-1968, B31.3-1993, B31.4-1992, B31.5-1992) published by ASME.

46.During a welding qualification test for an enterprise, preparation of joints shall be carried out with a blowpipe when the welding requires such an operation. For personal qualification tests, the candidate shall prepare the joints manually, with an oxyacetylene blowpipe.

48.If a candidate fails a test, he may take a supplemental test after the following delay periods:

(1) first supplemental test, 2 weeks following the initial test;

(2) second supplemental test, 3 months after the second failure; and

(3) thereafter, 6 months after the last failure.

(Replaced as regards the personal qualification of welder).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 48; O.C. 280-2006, s. 49.

49.Despite section 48, a test may be retaken without delay, if the candidate does each failed position twice and all the samples are tested successfully.

(Replaced as regards the personal qualification of welder).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 49; O.C. 280-2006, s. 49.

50.An approved welding or brazing method remains valid for as long as one of its essential variants as determined in the Welding and Brazing Qualifications Code has not been changed (ASME-1995, Section IX).

51.In enterprise having a pressure vessel quality control program, a certificate is issued at the time of the initial qualification only, whereas in the case of other enterprises and also in the case of personal qualification, a welding qualification certificate is issued for a 2-year period.

In order to maintain a valid certificate for a specific process, a welder must in all cases use that specific process without an interruption of more than 6 months.

(Replaced as regards the personal qualification of welder).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 51; O.C. 977-96, s. 9; O.C. 280-2006, s. 49.

52.In enterprises having an approved pressure vessel quality control program the inspector sees to the initial qualification of welders and issues the qualification certificate.

Thereafter, the enterprise shall maintain the qualification of its welders in conformance with this Division and with the Welding and Brazing Qualifications Code (ASME-1995, Section IX).

However, an inspector shall require the requalification of a welder if he ascertains that his welding is defective or does not meet the requirements of the previously mentioned Code.

53.In enterprises that do not have an approved pressure vessel quality control program, and the same for personal qualification, the inspector sees to the initial qualification as well as to any other requalification rendered necessary in conformance with this Division and the Welding and Brazing Qualifications Code (ASME-1995, Section IX). The inspector also sees to the qualification required for the renewal of welding certificates every 2 years.

55.No welder may weld for an enterprise that has an approved and registered welding or brazing method without having passed the individual test using this method. However, the holder of a welding qualification certificate issued under section 21 for such methods as manual welding, arc with coated metal electrode, or arc with tungsten electrode under gas, when using materials classed P-1 or P-8 by the Welding and Brazing Qualifications Code (ASME-1995, Section IX) and using electrodes classed as F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5 or F-6 by previously cited Code may change employer without having to undergo a new qualification test under the supervision of an inspector, if the new employer uses an approved and registered welding method that corresponds to the qualifications of the welder and he preceeds to qualify the new welder when he is hired, in accordance with the previously cited Code.

56.A manufacturer of pressure vessels must have a pressure vessel quality control program approved in conformance with sections 5.3 to 5.7 of the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (CSA B51-M1991).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 56; O.C. 1310-91, s. 20; O.C. 1678-94, s. 2.

57.To be approved, a pressure vessel quality control program must ensure that:

(1) the operating methods and materials used are in conformance with this Regulation;

(2) the personnel carrying out the work hold the qualifications required under this Regulation;

(3) the inspection personnel are qualified and have sufficient independence within the enterprise to single out problems related to quality control, and are able to apply the required solutions;

(4) there is an inspection record for checking the work and all inspections to see that they are in conformance with the pressure vessel quality control program.

65.A fee of $156 for the first hour or fraction of an hour and of $76 for each additional half-hour or fraction of a half-hour, in addition to a sum of $74 for each trip required, per person, is payable for

(1) each examination or approval of plans and specifications or of other documents relating to a pressure vessel, a boiler, an accessory, piping, or a part thereof;

(2) each verification or approval of a quality control program for a pressure vessel;

(3) each approval, revision or registration of a welding method, including brazing;

(4) each qualification examination for a welder or braze-welder;

(5) each inspection in respect of a pressure vessel, a boiler, an accessory, piping or a part thereof, including, as the case may be, the issue of a certificate of approval.

Where more than one activity is executed during a trip, the total duration of the activities shall be taken into account in calculating the payable fee.

67.In the case of approval of the installation of a boiler or a pressure vessels constructed outside Québec and having no certificate of approval of construction, the fee payable is three times the fee provided for in section 65.

68.The fee payable is double the fee provided for in section 65, with a minimum amount equivalent to the fee payable for 2 hours, in the case of an activity referred to in subparagraphs 1 to 5 of the first paragraph of section 65 that is executed, subsequent to a request, between noon and 1:00 p.m. or between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m., or that is executed on a Saturday, on a holiday or on the eve of or the day following Christmas Day and New Year’s Day or on any other day that is substituted therefor.

70.The fee payable for the issue of a certificate of approval of construction is $59 for each vessel or boiler constructed outside Québec and inspected during its construction by an agency recognized under section 27.

79.If an inspector is unable to inspect a pressure vessel during his first inspection visit and is obliged to make another visit, because of the negligence or refusal of the manufacturer, the installer or the user, the latter shall pay an additional fee of $231.

86.1.The fees prescribed in sections 65 to 71 and 79 shall be increased, on 1 April of each year, according to the rate of increase in the all-items Consumer Price Index for Canada for the period ending on 31 December of the preceding year, as determined by Statistics Canada. This increase shall be effective from 1 April.

The fees thus increased shall be rounded off by increasing or decreasing them to the nearest thousandth of a dollar when they are expressed in thousandths of a dollar, to the nearest hundredth of a dollar when they are expressed in hundredths of a dollar.

In all other cases, they shall be rounded off by increasing or decreasing them to the nearest dollar. However, when they are less than or equal to $35, they shall be rounded off by increasing or decreasing them to the nearest tenth of a dollar.

The Minister of Labour shall publish in the Gazette officielle du Québec a notice of the cost of such fees as soon as it is determined.

O.C. 240-92, s. 1; O.C. 942-95, s. 4.

87.Section 86 does not apply to inspectors named under the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1).

O.C. 2519-82, s. 87.

DIVISION 16

TEMPORARY AND FINAL PROVISIONS

88.Within the 90 days following the enforcement of this Regulation, the user of a pressure vessel shall obtain approval for the use of a material, an accessory, a pressure vessel or of a design or manufacturing method different from that provided for in this Regulation, so as to ensure that the pressure vessel in use offers a safety factor equivalent to the standards in this Regulation.

O.C. 2519-82, s. 88.

89.Certificates in force at the time of enforcement of this Regulation remain valid as if they had been issued under this Regulation.